Pamela Wilson

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English 1A :: Section 33
TR: 3:00-4:15 PM
RM: MDC 1028

WELCOME to English 1A!

Course description for English 1A: College Composition

According to the CSUS college catalogue, ENGL 1A is “an intensive course in the writing of the expository essay. The course includes instruction in selected grammatical and punctuation problems, pre-writing and re-writing processes, and the overall organization of the essay, with special attention to paragraph development with effective use of supporting evidence.

Prerequisite:EPT score of 151 or above, or completion of ENG 1.
3 units

This course requires careful reading, critical thinking and analytical writing. We will read essays, stories, and poems and view films for discussion and writing topics. We will practice doing research and documentation. This is a composition course; therefore, everything we do relates to your writing assignments, which are:

Three out-of-class essays
One in-class midterm
One research paper
One final exam
Reading responses
Quizzes & homework
Informal in-class writing

Classroom Policies:

1.) Prompt, regular attendance is MANDATORY because it is crucial to your success in this class. Your presence in class is extremely important to your progress in this course; much of your development as a writer and thinker will come as a result of class participation and writing practice in the classroom. In order to encourage good attendance, I will allow you three absences for the semester. After that, I will deduct 1/3 of a grade from your final semester grade for every subsequent absence. Keep track of missed classes (I will).
2.) All out-of-class papers must be typed using the MLA format for academic papers.
3.) Papers are due at the beginning of class. After the due date, a late paper loses 1/3 of a grade for every day it is late (including weekends).
4.) Essays not submitted for peer evaluation will automatically lose a full letter grade on the final draft.
5.) All assignments prepared outside of class must be typed, double spaced with one inch margins (no more) all around on 8 1/2" by 11" regular or heavy bond white paper. Do not use a cover sheet or title page. Place a heading in the right-hand corner of the essay (see below) and center the title (all essays have titles!). Place your last name and number the pages in the upper right hand corner starting with the second page.

Assignments

 The following assignments are due on the dates indicated.

Assignment	Day	Due
Course outline	Mon. Jan. 27	none
Nelson/Denny & In-class writing	Wed. Jan. 29	Bring 2 #882 scantrons & #2 pencil, read article
Tues. Grammar Diagnostic	Mon.	Bring 1 #882 scantron & #2 pencil, read article
Discuss writing assignment #1	Wed.	read essay

Grades and Grading Policy

Point system:
Three out-of-class essays ……..….…..……… 250 points
One research essay ………..…..…........…….. 150 points
One midterm ………………………....……….... 50 points
One final ………………………………...……… 50 points
Homework …………...………………….……… 50 points
Quizzes ………………………………….……… 50 points
Total …………………………………............… 600 points

Grading:

Technology Requirements

Students will need an electronic mail account and computer access to the Web. All CSUS students enrolled in one or more units can create a SacLink account for electronic mail and Internet services. Although a home computer with a high speed modem running Netscape or Internet Explorer would be beneficial, students can use the Web from one of the campus student labs.

Computing Recommendations

You should be comfortable using a computer and willing to browse the Web. This class requires online class participation on the Web assignments and electronic discussions.

You need:

• Macintosh compatible with System 10 (OS X) or higher or Windows compatible Pentium running Windows 98 or XP.
• 128 MB of RAM
• 56K modem or faster connection
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or Netscape 6 (or higher)
• SacLink or other Internet Account
• Word processing skills

Text and Materials

 Required:. A Writer’s Reference, 5/e. Diana Hacker. Bedford. 2002Course requirements:

You can purchase books through the Hornet Bookstore. Check their Online Textbook Sales page at http://www.foundation.csus.edu/bookstore/textbooks/ for ordering information.